The Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations summit, which begins on Saturday in St. Petersburg, Russia, is to have the global health issues high on its list of priority.

Gennady Onishchenko, Russia's chief public health officer, addressing the press stated that the G8 members would be signing a document that would establish the basic guidelines for combating infectious diseases worldwide. He explained that Russia at the summit plans to discuss issues that are related to the increasing number of people contracting TB and HIV, Gennady Onishchenko, the country's chief medical officer,

The WHO while welcoming the focus on infectious diseases, but urged G8 leaders to stick to their commitments. According to a progress report, which was released earlier in the month by DATA, an international debt relief group, it was reported that the G8 has yet to fulfil earlier pledges to provide antiretroviral drugs to Africa, expand trade and increase aid.